Claire Baptiste is a first-year medical student at the University of Vermont, Larner College of Medicine.
In the following blog post, she writes about her volunteer experience raising skin cancer awareness and getting involved with the Abenaki community, which heightened her interest in the field of dermatology.
“Seeing the Chief of the Abenaki tribe in Vermont join us for a free skin check and being in the room with the Abenaki community during their drum circle brought me joy as I got involved in the Greater Burlington community.”
What Is A Community Health Screening?
Community health screenings serve a vital role in early identification of chronic conditions, including hypertension and diabetes mellitus, which can increase an individual’s risk of developing chronic diseases. Detecting these conditions at an early stage can substantially influence patient outcomes by facilitating prompt intervention and lifestyle adjustments.
These screenings are typically conducted outside of health care settings, offering free or low-cost health assessments to help evaluate the risk of developing chronic conditions. They typically also incorporate an educational component to actively involve community members in their own disease prevention.
Adapting To Medical School
Prior to medical school, the pandemic had distanced me from community involvement. During my undergraduate years, I organized vaccination clinics and kidney health screenings to bridge the gap between underserved communities and health care. That is why I was thrilled when given the opportunity to volunteer with UVM Dermatology and Cancer Center teams.
I obtained my Master of Public Health before entering medical school to further my toolkit for addressing health disparities in the community. This is why I am passionate about finding opportunities that allow me to engage with the community. Often, people are hesitant to participate in the health care system due to discrimination, past negative experiences, or the feeling of being mere customers rather than empowered individuals. Consequently, getting involved in the community serves as a constant reminder to maintain humility as a medical student and beyond by offering tangible access to health care. This principle lies at the foundation of preventive medicine.
Screening Day
This past October in Stowe, Vermont, the annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day Rocks! event returned for its 4th year. It was a day-long celebration of culture, education, and music in honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. As part of the educational component, we were welcomed to table at the event. According to the National Cancer Institute, Vermont has higher incidence rates of breast cancer, prostate cancer, and melanoma compared to the general U.S. population. Thus, it was great to see UVM’s Cancer Center collaborating with the UVM Dermatology team to promote sunscreen use and offer free skin checks to the community.
Throughout the afternoon, I worked alongside first-year dermatology residents and the chief of dermatology, Dr. Joseph Pierson. I approached families, couples, and individuals passing by, introducing them to our team, explaining our purpose, offering samples, free skin checks, and sharing the importance of skin cancer screening. Some individuals were hesitant about getting a skin check. I wonder how much of that could be mistrust of academic institutions, fear about discovering something going wrong, or even lack of knowledge about what constitutes a suspicious lesion among many other possible etiologies. However, there were several individuals who were eager to receive a free skin check to clarify the nature of a spot that concerned them. I vividly recall one man who told me how seriously worried he was about a “mole” on his right shoulder and how many years he had been trying to get a doctor’s appointment without success.
Bridging Gaps With The Community
As community members, including the Chief of the Abenaki tribe, expressed their interest in getting their skin checked, I alerted the dermatology residents. They diligently examined each concern one by one, identifying a range of skin conditions, from actinic keratosis to cherry hemangioma, and even a potential case of melanoma. Dr. Pierson provided necessary follow-up where needed, ensuring thorough care, especially for concerning cases. Having the Chief of the Abenaki tribe participate in a skin check helped to encourage others to raise concerns about their new spots or moles and was therefore a significant step in facilitating this discussion. Witnessing this process underscored how academic medical centers can bridge gaps with the community, ultimately making a positive impact.
Moreover, the UVM Cancer Center’s trivia wheel provided a fantastic way to educate teenagers and children about the importance of wearing sunscreen, even on cloudy days. The prize included color-changing wristbands that turned purple when UV rays were detected. This is an innovative and engaging tool to highlight the importance of disease prevention to children.
How Is This Shaping My Career And Aspirations?
As I embrace the responsibilities that come with the white coat and commitment to becoming a physician, I draw invaluable lessons from this experience. As a medical student, I eagerly anticipate more opportunities like the one in Stowe, where I can bring health care to underserved populations in Vermont. Despite being an out-of-state student, my background in public health and my desire to help others push me to organize and participate in future opportunities—be it as a medical student, resident, or physician. This experience has also piqued my interest in dermatology and deepened my understanding of the cases one may encounter within this specialty. I eagerly anticipate the day when I can contribute my medical expertise to community screenings.
My biggest takeaway from the experience, however, is the importance of celebrating one’s identity and giving back to the community. I was deeply moved by the celebration I witnessed and the awareness I was able to spread about skin cancer within the community. Public health education and community engagement are at the core of my aspirations, and I hope this experience convinces and inspires others to seek opportunities to give back to the Greater Burlington area, particularly to those from disadvantaged communities.
More on the event and UVMCC partnership with Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation.
